CITY OF PACIFICA
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
Council Chambers
2212 Beach Blvd
Pacifica, CA 94044
Mayor Sue Vaterlaus
Mayor pro Tem Sue Beckmeyer
Councilmember Mary Bier
Councilmember Tygarjas Bigstyck
Councilmember Christine Boles
City Council Regular Meeting 1 May 28, 2024
SPECIAL AND REGULAR MEETING
May 28, 2024 (TUESDAY)
www.cityofpacifica.org
Mayor Sue Vaterlaus called the meeting to order on May 28, 2024 at 5:05 PM 5:00 PM - STUDY SESSION
Mayor Vaterlaus called the study session to order at 5:05 p.m.
Annual Reports to City Council from the Planning Commission; Parks, Beaches & Recreation Commission; Emergency Preparedness & Safety Commission; Beautification Advisory Committee; Open Space and Parkland Advisory Committee; and Economic Development Committee
PROPOSED ACTION: Receive informational annual report presentations from each commission and committee, provide feedback, and receive and file the annual report of each commission and committee.
Representatives from the Planning Commission; Parks, Beaches & Recreation Commission; Emergency Preparedness & Safety Commission; Beautification Advisory Committee; Economic Development Committee; and Open Space & Parkland Advisory Committee presented their annual reports to Council. Council thanked all Commissions/Committees for their hard work. 7:00 PM OPEN SESSION
Call to Order
Mayor Vaterlaus reconvened the regular meeting at 7:23 p.m.
Attendee Name Title Status Arrived
Sue Vaterlaus Mayor Present
Sue Beckmeyer Mayor pro Tem Present
Mary Bier Councilmember Present
Tygarjas Bigstyck Councilmember Present
Christine Boles Councilmember Present
City Clerk Coffey took a verbal roll call.
Staff Present: Kevin Woodhouse, City Manager; Denise Bazzano, Assistant City Attorney; Lisa Petersen, PW Director; Yulia Carter, Asst. City Manager; Christian Murdock, Planning Director; City Council Regular Meeting 2 May 28, 2024
Maria Sarasua, Police Chief; Scott Leslie, Acting PB&R Director; Louis Sun, PW Dep. DirectorWastewater Div.; Daniel Patten, Wastewater Engineering Manager; Tara Schiff, Economic Development Manager; Chris Clements, Police Captain; Bill Glasgo, Police Captain; Sarah Coffey, City Clerk; Emily La, Dep. City Clerk.
Reading of Land Acknowledgment
Mayor Vaterlaus read the Land Acknowledgment.
Salute to the Flag led by Mayor Vaterlaus
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
A. Proclamation: Pride Month - June 2024
Mayor Vaterlaus began reading a proclamation in recognition of Pride Month briefly, then asked Councilmember Bier to complete the reading of the proclamation.
Councilmember Bier completed reading the proclamation.
Commissioner Jana Rickerson, San Mateo County LGBTQ Commission, thanked Pacifica for this proclamation, mentioning that Pacifica was one of the first cities in the county to raise the flag and read a proclamation for June.
Councilmember Bier thanked Commissioner Rickerson for her service. She gave Commissioner Rickerson the proclamation and they then took a picture with Council.
Mayor Vaterlaus thanked Councilmember Bier for completing the proclamation and she invited everyone to attend Pacifica’s third Coast Pride celebration on June 1.
B. Special Presentation: California Association of Local Economic Development (CALED) – 2023 CALED Award of Excellence for Programs & Promotions – Winner, City of Pacifica for Vision 2025 & Beyond Initiative
City Manager Woodhouse stated that he is excited to introduce the special presentation of California Association of Local Economic Development (CALED) and 2023 CALED Award of Excellence for Programs and Promotions. He stated Michelle Stephens, CALED Program Director, would present the award to the Mayor. He stated that several months ago he found out that the city’s Vision 2025 and Beyond Strategic Financial Sustainability Program won this statewide award that the city is very honored to receive. Vision 2024 and Beyond was a multifaceted approach to strategic planning and visioning and Council supported it wholeheartedly; it includes financial forecasting, work on economic development, work towards revenue enhancement for the city, public engagement, as well as robust communications to the public.
He acknowledged Asst. City Manager Carter for all her work over recent years on this Vision 2025 program. He then introduced Michelle Stephens, the Program Director of CALED.
CALED Program Director Stephens thanked Asst. City Manager Carter and Economic Development Manager Tara Schiff for inviting her tonight. She stated that she is the Program Director for CALED and they are a membership association for economic developers throughout the state. She stated that they have over 900 members with the lion’s share of those members working in local government, whether city government, county government and some regional City Council Regular Meeting 3 May 28, 2024
Economic Development corporations. They work every day to make sure they are helping their members throughout the state to be successful in their endeavors. She is pleased to present the Award of Excellence in Economic Development Programs and Promotions for Vision 2025 and Beyond, this multi-year and multi-phase strategic planning initiative. She stated that, of the applicants, this comprehensive and community-centered project rose to the top based on its multi-pronged approach of financial forecasting, economic studies, identifying short and long term opportunities, revenue enhancement, robust public engagement and how it told Pacifica’s story. She stated that Pacifica’s staff received this award in front of their economic development peers in Santa Rosa during CALED’s annual conference this past April. She stated that she is happy to be here now, awarding it in front of City Council and members of the public. She stated that the strategic planning is an important element in a community’s economic growth and Vision 2025 and Beyond has positioned Pacifica for success with economic vitality and long-term financial stability. She invited the Mayor to come forward to accept the award.
Mayor Vaterlaus accepted the award and thanked her.
C. Special Presentation: Age Friendly Cities
Roy Earnest, Associate Director for the Center for Age Friendly Excellence, presented information from Pacifica’s Age-Friendly Community Initiative.
Councilmember Bier thanked him. She talked about the importance of thinking through an agefriendly lens and looked forward to continuing to work with him. She referred to him asking for a letter of support and she will make sure to connect with the City Manager or Mayor.
Mayor pro Tem Beckmeyer asked about next steps for the age-friendly business component.
Associate Director Earnest stated many cities set criteria for what an age friendly business and organization is and they ask the community to make nominations of businesses that fit those criteria. Then, the city or coalition community group recognizes those businesses. From there, cities that do this have training information that they provide any businesses that request one and they will be glad to go to the business to train the business owner and their staff.
Councilmember Bier added that we can do some training for the Economic Development Committee. She thinks the outreach to the businesses is an important part of creating relationships and getting the information out there.
Associate Director Earnest agreed that there is a lot of room for creativity.
Councilmember Bigstyck appreciates the work they are doing. He would love to see if there are innovations that come out of this in ways to help customers better and implement technologies better.
Councilmember Boles thanked him for all the work he is doing. She stated that the town hall she attended was amazing. She stated that it feels like we already have an age-friendly community but there are so many ways that they could improve. She referred to his mention of recruiting more commission members, and she asked what they are specifically looking for in terms of interest or qualifications.
Associate Director Earnest stated that they are looking for Pacifica residents who have a real interest in the well-being of older adults. He thought it would be great if they could find a few City Council Regular Meeting 4 May 28, 2024
people who have a background in gerontology but it is not required. He stated that they are also looking for representatives from community groups that would like to join and be a representative of their group.
Mayor Vaterlaus stated she went to one of their meetings before Pacifica was an age-friendly city in San Mateo and she learned a lot there. She also attended a recent meeting and it was very good in talking about the positives and negatives of what we have for seniors in Pacifica.
She referred to the C-A-R Program which is one of the best, thanking the Nuikkanen Trust for that. She thanked him for all he does.
Associate Director Earnest thanked them for all they do.
There were no public comments on the special presentations.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Vaterlaus asked if Council would like to pull anything from the consent agenda.
Mayor pro Tem Beckmeyer had a question on Item 2. She asked for a brief overview of the geographic information system (GIS) and what this will do for the city.
PW Director Petersen stated that GIS is critical for every city and county in California and throughout the United States. It provides a graphical understanding of what is happening in the city and will allow the city to be able to pull up a map that shows an area where there may be problems with trees or an area with a lot of issues with potholes. It allows the city to see graphically where the problems or hot spots are and similar uses for other departments.
Mayor pro Tem Beckmeyer asked if we have a timeline and how do we envision it rolling out.
PW Director Petersen stated that we have hired a retired annuitant who is ready and waiting to work on it following approval.
Councilmember Boles stated that she had questions about Item 3. She asked if we can describe to the public where this work is taking place.
WW Engineer Manager Patten stated that the Lower Linda Mar project was an area that was originally identified on their sewer plan update several years ago and the majority of the work will be along Crespi, up from Highway 1 into neighborhoods to the north against the hill; there is a small section of Peralta and working up the hill on Crespi to about short of Manzanita. He thought there is about 30,000 linear feet of sewer that will be replaced, not including the laterals.
Councilmember Boles emphasized how important this project is for the maintenance of our sewer systems to keep the infiltration out so our plant can work at full capacity. She stated that it is important for the people to replace their individual lines that connect to those as well. She asked if he can talk about the lateral grant and why it is important for people to do this work.
WW Engineer Manager Patten stated that the sewer laterals are in many places are as old as the houses in this neighborhood dates to the late 1950s. This infrastructure has a certain lifetime and we get a lot of leakage coming through the laterals versus the mains. He stated that some reasons for replacing the laterals on this project is that the contractors are mobilized, meaning we have a fixed price from the contractor for the lateral replacement itself and City Council Regular Meeting 5 May 28, 2024
residents also can avail the sewer lateral grant programs so this is one of the most costeffective times that one can get the work done. He stated that these neighborhoods were some of the areas identified as the worst infiltration inflow in our collection system; by keeping the clean water out of the dirty water, we will reduce the load on the collection system at the pump stations that will affect citywide. At the treatment plant we use quite a bit resources and energy to treat every drop of water and anywhere we can reduce that counts. He stated that, on the surface it helps one neighborhood, but it should help the collection system and wastewater treatment system as a whole.
Councilmember Boles knows some residents last year were having difficulty because there was a tree in their front yard and they wanted to replace their sewer lateral but were initially told they had to hire an arborist. She wondered if we established new policies to evaluate whether that is required, especially if breaking through an existing line not affecting existing roots.
PW Director Petersen stated that the Tree Ordinance is still in effect; the way it works is, if one is replacing the sewer lateral and digging that hole in the yard, depending on where the location of trees are around there, there is a possibility that an arborist may be needed to look and make sure significant roots for the trees are not cut. The city is planning on having on this project an arborist that will help assess people’s properties which is another benefit in addition to the $2,000 sewer later grant.
Mayor pro Tem Beckmeyer asked how people can learn more to take advantage of these opportunities.
PW Director Petersen stated that we will have a public meeting for residents about the lateral replacement and information was sent out the residents related to that. For those interested generally about our sewer lateral replacement program, it is on the city’s website.
Councilmember Bigstyck stated to be able to modernize any component of our aging infrastructure is amazing and this piece of infrastructure is some of the most vital human functions. He then referred to Item 4 about ultraviolet system being replaced. He asked for more information about that project.
WW Engineering Manager Patten stated Pacifica was one of the first cities in California to have municipal disinfection of wastewater with ozone. He stated that the equipment we have is no longer supported by the manufacturer and the newer system we are replacing with is from the same manufacturer and uses up to 85% less energy to treat the same disinfection better. He stated that this project has been in design for a while and was recently completed.
Mayor Vaterlaus opened public comments.
Chris Redfield, Pacifica, stated he wanted to comment on this as it has been a long time coming and shared his thoughts and appreciation for the project.
Mayor Vaterlaus closed public comments. She added that, if someone sells their house during a specific time period after taking the grant, the grant must be paid back.
City Council Regular Meeting 6 May 28, 2024
RESULT: ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Christine Boles, Councilmember
SECONDER: Tygarjas Bigstyck, Councilmember
AYES: Vaterlaus, Beckmeyer, Bier, Bigstyck, Boles
1. Approval of Minutes
PROPOSED ACTION: Move to approve the minutes for the following: May 13, 2024 City Council Regular Meeting.
2. Resolution to Approve a Small Government Enterprise Agreement with ESRI for Geographic Information System (GIS) Software
PROPOSED ACTION: Adopt a Resolution to Approve a Small Government Enterprise Agreement with ESRI for Geographic Information System (GIS) Software in an amount of $81,400 for three years.
3. Lower Linda Mar Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation and Repair Project C044 PROPOSED ACTION: Adopt a Resolution: (A) Approving the Construction Contract with Ranger Pipelines Inc. in an amount of $8,478,015; and (B) Approving a Master Services Agreement and Task Order No. 1 with Tanner Pacific Incorporated in an amount of $1,299,752; and (C) Approving an Amendment 1 and Task Order No. 3 with Schaaf and Wheeler in an amount of $69,875; and (D) Authorizing a budget authority in the amount of $11,748,689, which includes contingencies in an amount not to exceed twenty percent (20%) of the Construction Contract amount and fifteen percent (15%) of the Construction Management Services and Engineering Services During Construction Amounts; and (E) Authorizing staff to Execute Future Change Orders not to exceed the contingency amount; and (F) Authorizing the City Manager and Designated Personnel to Sign Contract Documents related to the Lower Linda Mar Rehabilitation and Repair Project C044.
4. Resolution to Approve Ultraviolet Disinfection System Replacement Project P034 at the Calera Creek Water Recycling Plant
PROPOSED ACTION: Adopt a Resolution: (A) Approving the Construction Contract with Anvil Builders Inc. in an amount of $5,767,626.00; (B) Approving a Master Services Agreement and Task Order No. 1 with Kennedy Jenks Consultants Inc. in an amount of $1,110,324; (C) Approving Amendment 1 and Task Order No. 3 with Carollo Engineers Inc. in an amount not of $537,000; (D) Authorizing a budget authority in the amount of $8,815,573.80, which includes contingencies in an amount not to exceed twenty percent (20%) of the Construction Contract amount and fifteen percent (15%) of the Construction Management Services and Engineering Services During Construction Amounts; (E) Authorizing staff to Execute Future Change Orders not to exceed the contingency amount; and (F) Authorizing the City Manager and Designated Personnel to Sign Contract Documents related to the Ultraviolet Disinfection System Replacement Project P034.
PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEMS NOT ON THE POSTED AGENDA
There were no public comments.
City Council Regular Meeting 7 May 28, 2024
COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Vaterlaus stated she went to the Sports Hall of Fame Breakfast, the Democrats meeting featuring Coastal Commissioner Justin Cummings, the newspaper group to meet the new publisher, the Wildfire Awareness event, and the Terra Nova Car Show on one day. The next day, she went to Victorian Tea at the Historical Society and a fundraiser for the Fog Fest. She attended the Fairmont Homeowners Association, Fog Fest Committee, Coastal Cities Group, and Commissions and Committees interviews. She went to the Public Works open house, the Housing Element meeting, the Local Coastal Update meeting, and the Council of Cities dinner in Redwood City, and the Memorial Day event at the American Legion.
Mayor pro Tem Beckmeyer stated she attended the Coastal Cities’ second webinar of the year, which highlighted the Cities of Santa Cruz and San Clemente and their specific challenges with coastal erosion issues and what they were doing about it. She also attended Commission and Committee interviews and then the clean air and induction cooking presentation at the Pedro Point Firehouse. She attended the Fog Fest fundraiser as well as a meeting with the Coastal Cities Leadership Group.
Councilmember Bier attended the EDC meeting which had spirited conversation about Shop Pacifica with members of the community. She has been doing Coast Pride planning with a lot of meetings and gave a shout out to Pacificans Care for sponsoring. She thanked the Fog Fest group for their hard work and fundraiser. She stated that she attended the Democrats meeting and heard from Coastal Commissioner Justin Cummings. She stated that the Pacifica Resource Center needs food donations and encouraged the public to support them. She also watched the Planning Commission’s Quarry study session.
Councilmember Bigstyck stated he watched the Planning Commission meeting on the Quarry and provided clarification to the public that presence of City Councilmembers at meetings including matters that can come to Council on appeal may impart a sense of impropriety. He asked the Mayor to adjourn in memory of Joaquin Dominik Jimenez Alvarado, the son of Half Moon Bay Mayor Joaquin Jimenez. He attended the Broadmoor Police Protection District meeting for his LAFCo meeting the next day. He attended the Open Space Parkland Advisory Committee meeting, as well as the City Democrats meeting in which Coastal Commissioner Justin Cummings was speaking. He then showed Commissioner Cummings around our coastline. He attended the end of Terra Nova Car Show as well as the San Mateo County Library JPA meeting. He met with Field Representative Katrina Hill at a service academy reception held by Congresswoman Anna Eshoo. He stated that the 129th Airborne Division helped Congresswoman Eshoo put on this event to honor the kids she is helping to send to the military academy. He attended the North County Fire Authority meeting with Councilmember Boles and met Jeremy Dennis, Brisbane’s new city manager. There were Peninsula Division CalCities events on topics including the Taxpayer Deception Act, ballot measures, and the Bay Area Finance Housing Authority. He attended the LAFCo meeting, the East Palo Alto Sanitary District public hearing, the LCLUP meeting, the Council of Cities dinner at Redwood City, and the Memorial Day celebration remembrance at the American Legion Post and the memorial monument. Afterwards, he provided a tour to Congressional Candidate Evan Lowe hopes he has a similar opportunity with former City of San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo in the future.
Councilmember Boles stated that May is Affordable Housing Month and she attended a session on the cost and benefits of affordable housing led by a group of women architects. She met with the Emergency Preparedness and Safety Commission and talked about wanting to meet with Thrive Alliance and Thrive Rise about learning about how they organize non-profits. She City Council Regular Meeting 8 May 28, 2024
met with the Pacific Beach Coalition and congratulated them on all their hard work and for being chosen by Assemblymember Marc Berman as the non-profit of the year. She stated that the CalCities event was fascinating and interesting to see how the different cities are facing their challenges and what they have learned. She mentioned the “Healthy Air, Healthy Homes” event and thanked the Pacifica Climate Committee and Peninsula Clean Energy for being there. She thanked Coastal Commissioner Justin Cummings for the presentation on the Coastal Commission and answering the questions from our community. She met with residents on Esplanade, Chit Chat Café, and PRC following some incidents. She thanked the Planning Commission for their good work on the Quarry. She stated that the upcoming Friday was Civics Day and the San Mateo County Leadership Program would have a fireside chat with State Senator Scott Weiner and Congressman Kevin Mullin. She would not be able to attend the Pride event due to scheduling conflict with the San Mateo County Leadership Program, where she has been working on this water capture project for Pescadero and met with Ray Mueller this week about that. Lastly, she attended the Memorial Day event at the American Legion.
STAFF COMMUNICATIONS
City Manager Woodhouse stated that there were no staff communications.
Mayor Vaterlaus called a recess then reconvened the meeting.
PUBLIC HEARINGS - NONE.
CONSIDERATION
5. Appointments to the Open Space and Parkland Advisory Committee and Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission
PROPOSED ACTION: 1) Move to appoint two (2) applicants to the Open Space and Parkland Advisory Committee each for full terms to expire May 2028; and 2) Move to appoint two (2) applicants to the Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission each for full terms to expire May 2028.
City Clerk Coffey presented the staff report.
Councilmembers deliberated on applicants for the Open Space & Parkland Advisory Committee.
Councilmember Bigstyck moved to appoint Lauren Goodmiller and Ariel Strehl [Crews] each to a full four-year term to expire May 2028 on the Open Space & Parkland Advisory Committee; seconded by Councilmember Bier.
APPOINTMENTS TO THE OPEN SPACE AND PARKLAND ADVISORY COMMITTEE:
Lauren Goodmiller (full term to expire May 2028)
Ariel Strehl [Crews] (full term to expire May 2028)
RESULT: ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Tygarjas Bigstyck, Councilmember
SECONDER: Mary Bier, Councilmember
AYES: Vaterlaus, Beckmeyer, Bier, Bigstyck, Boles
City Council Regular Meeting 9 May 28, 2024
Councilmember Bigstyck requested that separate motions be made for appointing individuals to the Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission.
Councilmember Bigstyck moved to appoint Marc Staudenbaur to a full four-year term on to expire May 2028 on the PB&R Commission; seconded by Mayor pro Tem Beckmeyer.
APPOINTMENT TO THE PARKS, BEACHES AND RECREATION COMMISSION:
Marc Staudenbaur (full term to expire May 2028)
RESULT: ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Tygarjas Bigstyck, Councilmember
SECONDER: Sue Beckmeyer, Mayor pro Tem
AYES: Vaterlaus, Beckmeyer, Bier, Bigstyck, Boles
Councilmember Bigstyck stated that he would abstain from the vote on the second applicant to appoint to Parks, Beaches & Recreation Commission as he did not feel comfortable voting on an applicant that did not have an interview opportunity.
Councilmember Boles stated that they had the opportunity to read the applicants’ applications and recommended Tracy Buie; Councilmember Bier agreed.
Mayor Vaterlaus stated that she liked to interview applicants in person and was not comfortable voting for someone she did not meet.
Mayor pro Tem Beckmeyer asked staff for guidance on the process.
Assistant City Attorney Bazzano stated that if there is not a candidate that the majority of the Council could support because they were not in attendance, then there could be no votes for that candidate.
Councilmember Bier stated that she is ready to make a motion as she thinks it is important to fill the seat and based on the application, she thinks this person is very qualified.
Councilmember Bier moved to appoint Tracy Buie for a full four-year term to expire May 2028 on the PB&R Commission; seconded by Councilmember Boles.
Councilmember Bigstyck stated that he is abstaining from the vote.
APPOINTMENT TO THE PARKS, BEACHES AND RECREATION COMMISSION:
Tracy Buie (full term to expire May 2028)
RESULT: ADOPTED [3-1-1]
MOVER: Mary Bier, Councilmember
SECONDER: Christine Boles, Councilmember
AYES: Beckmeyer, Bier, Boles
NAYS: Vaterlaus
ABSTAIN: Bigstyck
6. Peace Resolution
PROPOSED ACTION: Consider whether or not to adopt the attached “Pacifica City Council Regular Meeting 10 May 28, 2024
Resolution for Peace and Reconciliation.”
Mayor Vaterlaus stated we would limit the comment to two minutes and she read a statement about the procedure.
City Manager Woodhouse deferred to Councilmember Bier who had requested this be agendized to introduce the item.
Councilmember Bier thanked him and her colleagues for being willing to bring this forward and discuss it. She felt we were so lucky to have Pacifica Peace People who are working so hard in our community to uplift peace. She thought it was important to think about our city and what our city’s name means and what is happening in the world. She felt that this conflict is front and center, with some of her students and families who are affected by this. She would like to hear from all the speakers and honor our Pacifica Peace People for their commitment. She shared the Peace Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi. She then read the proposed Peace Resolution.
Mayor Vaterlaus opened public comments.
Delia McGrath, Pacifica, stated she is a member of Pacifica Peace People which has a logo that is “acting locally for peace globally”. She then shared her thoughts on this resolution and support for Council passing this resolution.
Suzanne Moore, Pacifica, stated she stands with Pacifica Peace People in support of this resolution, and shared her thoughts on our city addressing this issue.
Linda Peebles, Pacifica, stated she has been a member of Pacifica Peace People for more than 20 years, and shared her thoughts on their group’s efforts asking the City Council to pass several resolutions for peace over time, providing some examples, and appreciation for Council addressing this resolution.
Marsha Murphy, Pacifica, appreciated this resolution and sang a song in honor of and in enthusiastic support of this resolution.
Susan Herring, Pacifica, thanked Councilmember Bier for bringing this before Council and for all of Council for hearing them. She shared her thoughts on supporting this resolution.
Rabbi Moshe Heyn, Pacifica, stated that he serves the coastside Jewish community, encompassing the entire coastside from Pacifica to Pescadero of about 400 to 500 Jews, and about 150 in Pacifica. He shared his thoughts for support of this resolution.
Flo Chang, Pacifica, thanked Council and especially Councilmember Bier for bringing this resolution forward. She shared her thoughts on everyone’s commitments to this issue and spoke in support of the resolution.
Sterling Russell, Pacifica, thanked Council for considering this resolution, and shared his thoughts on this situation and for everyone’s support.
Ellen Hage, Pacifica, stated she is grateful that this resolution has come before the Council and she urged their support and shared her thoughts on the complicated issue.
Yuri Cartier, Pacifica, expressed her appreciation for this resolution being brought before City Council Regular Meeting 11 May 28, 2024
Council and she urged them to approve it and shared her thoughts on this issue.
Jane Nahass, Pacifica, stated she is a Palestinian who has been in Pacifica for 38 years and shared her thoughts on this issue and asked for Council’s support of this resolution.
Judy Hanson, Pacifica, thanked Council for their support of this resolution and the work that Peace People have done and shared her thoughts on how they can come together to do this.
Joanne Rokosky, Pacifica, urged Council to approve the Pacifica resolution for peace and reconciliation and shared her thoughts on the issue affecting all of us.
Mayor Vaterlaus called a recess and then reconvened the meeting.
Clif Lawrence, Pacifica, stated he endorses the resolution, adding his statement that, when an eye for an eye, all it results in that the world is blind. He stated he is a pacifist.
Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, Pacifica, thanked Council for this resolution. He stated that he lived in Gaza until the age of 15 then Pacifica became his home and the Pacifica Peace People have been his family, and then shared his loss of family members in Gaza and Rafa and thoughts on this issue. He commented on reasons for his support of this resolution.
Gloria Stofan, Pacifica, thanked Council for putting this resolution on the agenda, and she stands with the Pacifica Peace People and urges them to vote in support of this resolution, sharing her thoughts on this issue.
Carlos Davidson, Pacifica, thanked them for considering this vital issue. He is Jewish and has family that died in the Holocaust and he urges them to vote yes on this resolution and shared his thoughts on this issue.
Cynthia Kaufman, Pacifica, thanked Council for considering this resolution, and shared her thoughts on this issue as a member of the Coastside Jewish community and our need to help tip the balance and end this war. She urged the Council to vote yes on the resolution.
Dan Evenhouse, Pacifica, stated he is associated with Pacifica Social Justice and a member of St. Edmond’s Episcopal Church and urged Council to vote for the resolution, and shared his appreciation for all supporters.
Hedieh Matinrad, Pacifica, urged Council to vote yes on the resolution, sharing her reasons in support of it as a physician, as the starvation and suffering is unacceptable and, as a mother, she believes in James Bolton’s words that the children are always ours wherever they are and we cannot be silent.
Adrienne Zanini, Pacifica, stated she is a member of Pacifica Peace People and encourages Council to adopt the resolution for peace and reconciliation and shared her thoughts on what Betty Williams said in her acceptance speech for the 1976 Nobel Peace prize.
Mayor Vaterlaus closed public comments.
Councilmember Bigstyck stated that he made a promise to Delia McGrath and Flo Chang prior to this night which he will honor. He asked what we are going to do if this resolution passes.
City Council Regular Meeting 12 May 28, 2024
Asst. City Attorney Bazzano stated the resolution does not provide any direction on where the resolution should be distributed, but Council could add that as direction for the item if the majority of Councilmembers would like to do that.
Councilmember Bigstyck asked Councilmembers that that may be a point of discussion. He was impressed by the peaceful way this was brought forth, given the serious lessons learned in neighboring cities. He then stated he is grateful that Councilmember Bier had the courage to bring this forward and thanked her for doing so. He expressed his thoughts on the situation in Gaza. He liked the idea in the resolution’s unconditional provision, initiations of reconciliation and a viable peace process for Israelis and Palestinians to create a better future for all and stated he would be voting yes for it. He stated that he made a commitment to Delia McGrath and Flo Chang and others that he will gladly vote for this resolution if it brought peace.
Councilmember Boles stated that words matter, and she wanted to start by thanking all the speakers who spoke and they all had beautiful things to say that she knows came from their hearts and they thought about a lot. They shared some of their experiences, what they have learned, what they have seen, what their families are suffering with, and she stated Council sees them and appreciates them. She shared an experience with negative public comments from a previous Council meeting and stated there was a deep fear that even bringing this discussion to this Chamber would bring that back. She stated she was glad they persisted and she thanked Councilmember Bier for bringing this to the Councilmembers today. She shared a quote by German theologian Martin Niemöller. She thanked the Pacifica Peace People for being the voice of the silent and the oppressed, for calling for diplomacy, for using our words.
She shared her thoughts on the situation in Gaza and referred to the Memorial Day service, which demonstrated that our democracy gives us great freedom but that freedom also comes with a responsibility to provide oversight and speak up when we see injustice. She stated that, today, she stands with the Peace People in support of their beautifully written resolution.
Mayor pro Tem Beckmeyer shared her thoughts on the resolution and thanked Pacifica Peace People for the beautifully written resolution which she will vote in support of. She also proposed to include a letter from the Mayor and send it on to our higher elected officials.
Councilmember Bier thanked the Council for creating the open and loving space tonight.
Mayor Vaterlaus stated she had had concerns about what might transpire at tonight’s meeting and she thanked everyone for their decorum at this meeting. She appreciated all of them very much for keeping the peace in the room.
Councilmember Boles moved to approve the People’s Resolution for Peace and Reconciliation with gratitude to the Peace People and with letters to our higher elected officials who have the power to make a difference; seconded by Councilmember Bier.
Asst. City Attorney Bazzano clarified that the direction is that the Mayor with the City Manager will draft a letter to legislative representatives, sending the copy of the executed resolution.
Councilmember Bigstyck asked to specify the higher elected officials.
Asst. City Attorney Bazzano stated to the legislative representatives of the City of Pacifica.
Councilmember Boles added the President of the United States.
City Council Regular Meeting 13 May 28, 2024
City Manager Woodhouse clarified that the letter and resolution would be sent to federal legislatures, i.e., Congresswoman Eshoo, Congressman Kevin Mullin (by Councilmember Bigstyck’s request), State Senators, and the President of the United States.
APPROVE THE PACIFICA RESOLUTION FOR PEACE AND RECONCILIATION AND
TRANSMIT RESOLUTION AND LETTER FROM THE MAYOR TO CONGRESSWOMAN
ESHOO, CONGRESSMAN KEVIN MULLIN, STATE SENATORS, AND PRESIDENT OF
THE UNITED STATES
RESULT: ADOPTED AS AMENDED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Christine Boles, Councilmember
SECONDER: Mary Bier, Councilmember
AYES: Vaterlaus, Beckmeyer, Bier, Bigstyck, Boles
ADJOURN
Councilmember Bigstyck stated that their colleague in Half Moon Bay, Joaquin Jimenez, lost his son in a tragic motorcycle accident. He stated Mayor Jimenez is a friend of Pacifica, a friend of the county, and an overall good human being. He wanted to make sure we send our regards to the mayor of Half Moon Bay and remember his son, even in such a fashion.
Mayor Vaterlaus adjourned the meeting at 10:31 p.m. in honor of Joaquin Dominik Jimenez Alvarado.
Transcribed by Barbara Medina, Public Meeting Stenographer.
Respectfully Submitted,
Sarah Coffey, City Clerk
APPROVED: 5 - 0; 6/24/2024
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Sue Vaterlaus, Mayor